It's starting to get cold here in Wisconsin again.
Soon the winds will be whipping and I won't even be
able to see my targets from all the snow. It happens
every year so you think I'd be used to it by now...
but no such luck :)

I've thrown with fluffy mittens on before but the
knives seem just a tad bit too slippery to get any
sort of consistency going :) So soon I'll be heading
inside and digging out all of my "indoor throwers".
These are pretty much just like my "outdoor throwers",
just a lot smaller in size.

Indoor throwers are nice because they are smaller and
lighter than the regular knives I throw, so they do a
lot less damage to your targets. Another great thing
about them is that you can throw them into layers of
cardboard and not have to worry about them tearing
right through them like regular sized knives would do.

The bad thing about throwing small knives is that they
can bounce or ricochet off the target quite a bit faster
than bigger knives. So pay attention and be safe!

ADDITION TO OUTDOOR TARGETS PAGE:
I recently got a message from a thrower in
Massachusetts. She wanted to share a few pics of her
"evolving" target range. She had a few different ideas
and improved upon each one until she ended up with a
great setup.

I just love the look of freshly painted targets!
To check out some great pictures of them just follow
this link:

RESULTS FROM THE AKTA NATIONALS
Congrats to Bill Cantey, Joe Darrah, Jeff Koch (the 1st,
2nd, and 3rd place overall finishers) and everyone else
who attended the 2002 AKTA NATIONALS in Awendaw, SC!
Also, thanks to Bobby Branton - President of the AKTA -
for hosting another fine event.

LOCAL THROWERS
If you are looking for local people to learn from or
just hang out with and throw sharp pieces of metal, then
this is the place for you. Ya never know, there could be
another thrower that lives right in your neighborhood!

Currently there are 113 throwers listed in 34 states,
and 17 different countries! And more people are signing
up every week. Soon you'll be able to throw with someone
no matter where you go!

Going on vacation? Check the LOCAL THROWERS page first
to see if there are any people listed near your
destination. Its easy to bring your knives just about
anywhere you go, and you won't have to haul your targets
from home. So c'mon and send in your info!

Follow this link for more details or to see if there are
any throwers that live in your neighborhood:

OTHER UPDATES
When you visit the site you'll notice a new
QUICK IDEA and lots of interesting posts in our
THROWZINI FORUM!

The forum is also a great place to ask questions about
ANYTHING that has to do with the sport of throwing. You
can learn tons of useful knife and axe throwing tips, or
learn about upcoming events or how to make a target,
just by visiting our homepage and clicking on the
THROWZINI FORUM link.

Throws over 15 feet are much more difficult but if
and when you can do the 4 to 15 feet and all in between,
then you can try the long ones. If you can't do the
15 foot half spin easily, then you will certainly not
be able to do the longer throws.

Long throws are once again the magnified version of the
15 foot throw increasing as the throw gets longer. If I
say 20 feet as a maximum, and the thrower gets to be
able to reach this distance, then they would have long
discovered how to go on under his own skill.

For these 20 foot 1/2 spin throws you need to learn an
arm movement that takes the knife in as "straight a line
as possible" from above your head to the point of
release. And keep the handle pointed toward the target
as much as possible even when it is raised above your
head.

Use power in the throw, add pressure to the top of the
blade with your forefinger, push down on the blade as it
leaves the hand and follow through after the knife
release.

If you do curl your fingers slightly around the blade
try and keep it as slight as possible, otherwise it
affects the forefinger pressure. Try and push/throw
the knife. And stretch out the throw, just like leaning
on a chest-high shop counter and trying to get something
that is just out of reach.

And of course, as in the shorter distances, 15 to 20
feet is only a matter of varying the hold, power, and
throw to suit the distance.

I can't speak from experience as to the possibility of
getting accurate in the longer throws, I just think it
may be very difficult. I also think that this type of
long throwing is better as a "party piece". But I would
like to see a thrower get accurate just to see that its
possible.

I would say for those who like contests, and are keen to
learn the half spin, it would be nice to run this method
alongside the conventional way, for a bit of fun or
whatever.

As for knives, I would say that the 13.5" Dragon Knives
I've seen on Scott's site look to be more than suitable
for this type of throwing:

Sizewise, my preference is about 14 inches long and
14 ounces in weight. I like them to balance in the
centre, with one edge flat that will rest on your
finger. But, once again, this is only my preference.

As for myself I have not done much throwing for quite a
few years. I have kept my hand in at my factory a couple
of times a month, but I am a bit rusty.

Since discovering The Great Throwzini Web Site I have
started practicing in earnest. My knives are flying
again around the tool room, and I am making up for lost
time. Also the children have long since flown the nest
so now home will be a place to practice!

I hope these few words will be of help to all those
interested in throwing half spins, but remember everyone
has to start somewhere. So at least this will give you
some idea and eventually you will develop your own
technique.

Keep 'em thudding away!!!

Article Contributed by:

Roy Hutchison
London, England

Alright, you finally get to see some pictures of all the
things Roy has been sharing! Just follow this link to
see some of the grips you've been reading about:

4. DRYWALL HAMMER, OR ANOTHER GREAT THROWER?
by Chuck Fogarty
I have a great target at my sons house made up of 6
Eucalyptus rounds that keeps me very busy. Last night
after supper I saw an unusual 'hawk sticking in the
target. I went out to check and it was a drywall hammer.

A drywall hammer has a large face for pounding in the
nails and the other side has a small, not too sharp,
"hatchet" for utility work.

I asked My son Mark about it and he reminded me that
about 20 years ago he spent 2 years as a drywall hanger.
He said, "We practically lived with these hammers. Quite
often we would throw them at 2 by 4's during our lunch
hour.

He then stuck the hammer in his pants, pulled it out,
spun it like a sixgun and flipped it back in his pants.
He drew the hammer again, launched it straight up in
the air, caught it by the handle and threw a perfect 1
turn into the target!

Mark will not throw with me but every now and then I get
a clue that he's done a bit of throwing in the past.

I threw the hammer with my hawks for awhile, it throws a
very nice 1 turn from about 12 feet. I don't know how
sturdy it is but most hawks and hammers are very well
made. Maybe drywall hangers could be a new source of
throwers for us?

Bless the Internet and sites like "The Throwers List,
The Sticking Point and The Great Throwzini Web site."
Throwing has become an important part of my life and
thru the above sites I am in touch with throwers from
all over the world.

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(Copyright 2002, Scott Gracia,
The Great Throwzini.)
Reprint permission granted in part or whole when the
following credit appears in full:

Reprinted with permission from Scott Gracia's
The Great Throwzini Newsletter.
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